Zap stains and odors on the first try with the best fragrance-free or sweet-smelling laundry detergents.
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When you think of the cleaning supplies you never really stop buying, laundry detergent is probably one of the first that comes to mind for many. With so many different liquid detergents, detergent packs and now detergent sheets available for purchase in stores and online it can seem like an overwhelming task deciding which formula to buy for your home. From our years of extensive laundry detergent testing, we know that no detergent gets out all of the stains we come across day-to-day and doing laundry the right way is important to getting the whitest whites and freshest towels.
Laundry detergents are some of our most frequently tested products in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. There is always a constant stream of new ones coming our way, and we test dozens of new ones each year. All laundry detergents claim to remove stains, whiten, brighten colors and generally just be "new and improved," so it's difficult to know which really works best. That's why we put them through a rigorous gamut of tests in our Lab. After staining cotton, polyester and blended fabrics with 20 common but hard-to-remove stains, like blood and permanent ink, we wash the swatches in our test detergents in both warm and cold water. After drying, each stain on the swatch is given a removal grade when viewed under standard lighting and with a spectrophotometer, and we calculate an overall score for each detergent. Here are our top laundry detergent picks to tackle every kind of mess and for every kind of load, based on our testing.
You can learn more about how we test, which laundry detergent is best for your needs and how much laundry detergent you really need to get your clothes clean at the end of this article.
Even when your clothing and bedding look totally clean, there could still be body soils and stains trapped deep within your clothes. That's where Good Housekeeping Seal star Tide Hygienic Clean comes in. It's formulated to better penetrate into fibers to dissolve and remove body oils and other nasties you may not even be able to see. This formula from Tide helps brighten clothes without bleach too, so it's safe to use on even your boldest colors.
To prove that it works, we had a consult with the manufacturer where a UV light was used to show that Tide Hygienic Clean left clothing cleaner than regular detergent. In our own at-home tests, white t-shirts and bedding washed in this Tide detergent emerged whiter than usual. These jumbo Power Pods (with more cleaning ingredients than two regular Pods) did an amazing job zapping stains from our Lab test swatches and are a great choice for families with lots of big loads of laundry to do. For smaller loads of laundry, opt for Tide's regular-sized pods.
Type: Packs | Number of loads per tub: 63 | Cost per load: 43 cents
Another Good Housekeeping Seal holder, Persil's liquid laundry detergent topped our test of 42 formulas doing the best job erasing stains from all of our swatches in cold water. It totally zapped coffee and beaten egg yolk from all fabrics in all water temperatures and had clear easy-to-follow instructions on the label. Reviewers online rave about its effectiveness as a stain pre-treater too. If you prefer a formula with a light scent, this may not be the detergent for you as this leaves behind a strong scent to freshly washed laundry.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 50 | Cost per load: 28 cents
Powder detergents have been around for many, many years and after years of testing, we find that they work just as well, if not better, than many liquid detergents. This powder from Seal-holder Tide is no exception, cleaning our cotton test swatches just as well in cold water as it did in warm. Tide+ with Bleach includes a color-safe bleach and an activating ingredient to help get and keep your whites and colors bright. It does not contain chlorine bleach so it's safe for washable fabrics and colors. This powder is formulated to work and dissolve in both traditional and high-efficiency washing machines, and in our tests, it did just that. Like other powder detergents, you must be careful to keep it stored in a dry area as any moisture can cause clumping.
Type: Powder | Number of loads per box: 89 | Cost per load: 26 cents
If you are looking to buy a hard-working detergent at a great value, Costco's Kirkland brand is a great choice. In our most recent laundry detergent test, it tied for first place in getting the most stains out of polyester in cold water. It also did much better than most at removing tea (a surprisingly tough stain to get out!) from both cotton and polyester fabric swatches. The extra large jug can be laid on its side on a counter for easy dispensing into the measuring cap. While this Kirkland detergent is available on Amazon without a Costco membership, it is significantly more expensive there.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 146 | Cost per load: 15 cents
Cleancult’s refillable laundry detergent is a great performer, and the refillable glass bottle helps reduce plastic waste. Refill cartons are paper-based and can be recycled. The detergent itself was one of the top performers in our latest test of 28 laundry detergents and eight stain removers. It almost completely nixed all but one of the stains we used for testing. It comes in two pleasant scents (plus an unscented variety) and has clear dosage instructions on the label. One tester we recruited to test this laundry detergent said, “The quality is nice and a little bit really goes a long way compared to my current detergent.”
In our own testing, we found the measurement lines in the refillable bottle's cap to be a bit hard to read and recommend rinsing the cap after each load to avoid messes on the bottle. According to the brand, the refillable bottles are made from shatterproof glass and the colorful silicone sleeve makes them both pretty and comfortable to hold. At about 33 cents per regular load, it is on par with many other liquid detergents on the market. Sign up for automatic refills to save about two cents per load.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 32 | Cost per load: 33 cents
Laundry detergent sheets are convenient to take on the go, require minimal storage space in the laundry room and are usually easier to dose than liquid laundry detergent. When we tested 24 of the most popular detergent sheet brands, this sheet from EC30 came out on top in both our stain testing and our fabric whiteness restoring tests. In fact, they were the only detergent sheet we tested that even came close to the results we saw with traditional laundry detergent packs.
There’s no need to measure out a dose for your loads. Just use one sheet for a regular load and two for large or heavily soiled loads. And though they were the slowest to dissolve in our Lab tests, we did not find any residue in any of the laundry loads we washed with these sheets. The packaging label had clear dosing instructions and safety precautions, too. Take note that these sheets have a higher cost per load than any other detergent sheet on this list, but if you subscribe to receive them automatically, you can save about 10 cents per load.
Type: Sheet | Number of loads per box: 30 | Cost per load: 97 cents
We first tested Aspen Clean’s liquid laundry detergent years ago and were as impressed by its performance. We recently tested it again for our newest Cleaning and Organizing Awards. It earned the highest stain removal score out of the 28 brands we tested, doing particularly well on chocolate syrup, lipstick and wine stains. During our review of the detergent label, we found that the dosing instructions were clear and easy to follow, and it had all of the necessary safety precautions clearly printed on the label.
Our consumer testers rated it well too, though a few noted that while they would like to continue to use this detergent in their homes, they were unsure that they would because it is not widely available at their usual shopping outlets. The laundry detergent pods from the brand were also good performers in our Lab tests and are included in our guide to the best eco-friendly laundry detergents, too.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 32 | Cost per load: 45 cents
A winner in the laundry category in a previous year's Good Housekeeping Cleaning Awards, Persil Proclean Discs + Oxi scored a top spot among the detergents that we tested. Not only did it perform well on our Lab-stained swatches, but it was a favorite with our consumer panel as well. One tester exclaimed that it removed dried berry and grass stains without pretreating, and another said she was switching to Persil from her regular brand. The colorful discs dissolve easily in all water temperatures and the oxi component is safe to use on colors and whites. In our testing, we found the tub is a bit difficult to open the first time, which is great for safety around children, but not the most convenient for adults.
Type: Packs | Number of loads per tub: 38 | Cost per load: 47 cents
Making a detergent that's safe for those with sensitive skin is about more than just removing the dyes and fragrances. It also has to clean well to remove hidden soils that can irritate and inflame delicate skin. Tide's Power Pods Free check both boxes. A winner for cleaning and stain removal in a previous year's Good Housekeeping Cleaning Awards, this Tide detergent beat out all the other detergents we tested in removing stains like ketchup, red wine and grass. The fact that it's gentle on skin and recognized by the National Psoriasis Foundation and the National Eczema Association makes it a great choice for those easily irritated by other detergents. And like the regular version, these jumbo packs can handle jumbo loads but may be too large for small loads.
Type: Packs | Number of loads per tub: 63 | Cost per load: 50 cents
Just looking at the Safely laundry detergent bottle — part of Kris Jenner's cleaning line — tells you it's something different, and once you open the cap and take a sniff, you'll know it's something different. While we haven't yet done our usual battery of stain tests on Safely, so far we are impressed with how it's cleaned the loads of laundry we have done at home. Most noticeable is its amazing scent. "Spring" is a light floral scent with notes of orange, jasmine and geranium with woodsy undertones. It's crisp and natural smelling, not heavy or artificial. And we like that it leaves clothing smelling clean, fresh and oh-so-lightly scented — not overly perfumed — even out of the dryer.
Online reviewers rave about it, and a new scent "Calm" has recently been introduced to the line. We also like the tall, slim easy-to-store bottle and the outer cap that doubles as a clearly-marked measuring cup. After measuring out your dose, though, the cap will need rinsing to keep the bottle from getting drippy.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 40 | Cost per load: 35 cents
The best way to prevent your favorite black jeans from fading to gray after just a few washes is to wash them inside out, in cold water and with a color-preserving detergent, like Woolite All Darks. Its special formula pulls color-fading metal and chlorine ions from the wash water, smooths rough fibers and severs the pills that can make fabrics look old before their time. At just 24 cents per regular load, it is less expensive than other laundry detergents we've tested.
Woolite's neutral formula removes light everyday soils from all fabrics and is a GH Cleaning Lab favorite for cleaning and protecting delicate fabrics and dark colors from the abrasive effects of washing. For heavily soiled clothing and items with lots of stains, this formula may not be the best option.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 66 | Cost per load: 24 cents
Babies have sensitive skin that needs to be protected, but boy, can they make stains! That's why new parents need a detergent that's an effective cleaner, but doesn't leave harsh residues behind, and Dreft is a long-time favorite. It contains enzymes to effectively remove protein stains, like formula (or poop!). The brand has created a sister detergent to this Stage 1 formula for when your tots have outgrown their onesies. That one's formulated to tackle the stains you're most likely to see at this stage of your baby's growth.
In GH Cleaning Lab tests, Dreft cleaned and removed stains as well as traditional adult detergents. And the cleaner clothes are, the less irritating they are on delicate skin. Dreft's hypoallergenic formula means no skin-irritating residues will be left behind. If your child's skin is super sensitive and you prefer a detergent without fragrance, consider the plant-based and fragrance-free version, Dreft Pure Gentleness Liquid Detergent.
Type: Liquid | Number of loads per bottle: 32 | Cost per load: 41 cents
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab we have tested well over 100 different laundry detergents from dozens of brands. For every new laundry detergent we test, we first review the labeling for the thoroughness of the directions, how much is recommended to use for medium, large and heavily soiled loads and whether it contains the required safety labeling cautions required by law based on the ingredients. For any claims we can't test in the Lab, we ask the manufacturers to supply us with support documentation that we review. We then apply a battery of 20 carefully measured stains (including grease, coffee, wine and more) to white cotton and polyester woven and knit fabrics and allow the stains to set for 24 hours before we wash them. In just our last test of 42 detergents, we applied and rated over 2,500 stains!
The next day, the swatches are washed in top- and front-loading washing machines in hot, warm or cold water with 7 to 8 pounds of additional items like towels, t-shirts, sheets and pillowcases to simulate an actual at-home load. We add in the amount of detergent recommended on the label for a load with heavy soil and run the cycle. When it's done, we remove the swatch and allow it to air dry.
Then, we take the fabric to a special dark grading room where — under standard industry lighting — we grade the removal of each of the 20 stains on a one to five industry scale (where five is complete removal and one is no removal). We also have a spectrophotometer that allows us to measure the amount of each stain left behind on the fabric after washing and calculate a soil removal score (pictured above). Finally, we note how neat and easy the detergent is to dispense, the amount of suds it produces and if it leaves any noticeable residue behind on our test loads or in our machines.
While most laundry detergents can be used to wash white clothes, dark clothes, bedding, towels and most other types of garments, there are still a few things to consider when choosing the right laundry detergent for your home.
✔️ Type: Powder, liquid, packs or sheets? Select the detergent form that is most convenient for you and your home. All washing machines have liquid and powder detergent dispensers. Most pack and sheet detergents should be placed directly in the washer tub and can be used in both front- and top-loading washing machines. Many new machines now have dispensers that can handle detergent packs, so always check both the washer and detergent directions for the best place to add them. Whatever detergent type you decide to buy, read the label carefully to ensure that it does not contain any ingredients that could damage your garments. Even an ingredient like oxi bleach which is generally considered safe for most fabrics and colors may not always be recommended on a garment’s care label that says “No bleach.” Read on for more information to help you decide which kind of laundry detergent is best for you.
✔️ Cost per load: The price on the detergent label is the amount you pay upfront for the detergent, but that doesn’t tell you if you are getting the most cost-efficient detergent. Instead, look at the price per load of the detergents you are considering. In general, powder and liquid detergents cost less per load than pack and sheet detergents.
✔️ Scent: Most detergent brands offer products in multiple scents and unscented varieties. Unscented detergents are especially beneficial for homes with allergy sufferers or those with sensitivities to strong scents. Different scented laundry detergents within the same line usually have no performance differences provided all ingredients besides the fragrance remain the same in the product’s formula.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each type. Which form you choose will depend on personal preference, which you find most convenient to use and most effective based on the brand and the types of laundry loads you do.
✔️ Powder detergent was the first type of laundry detergent, and it is typically cheaper compared to its liquid and single-dose counterparts. Detergents in this category tend to perform well on outdoor stains like mud, clay or grass, so it's great for little ones' soccer uniforms and your gardening clothes. Keep in mind: Powder must be stored in a completely dry area to avoid clumping. Also note that if you like washing in cold water, some powders may not dissolve completely and as a result, unwanted residue may settle on your clothing.
✔️ Liquid detergent performs particularly well on oil and grease stains. Conveniently, it can be used as a spot pre-treater, and you'll never have to worry about it not dissolving. Don't forget to use the correct amount, though: The lines on the measuring caps are there for a reason! Too much will cause over-sudsing and the soap may not rinse out when the cycle is over. Use too little, and your clothes won't get clean. Trust us: You get better results when you use the recommended amount.
✔️ Single-dose packets are very convenient but on average, cost a little more. You don't have to worry about using too little or too much detergent as it is already pre-measured. Usually, one pack is recommended for average-sized loads and two packs for large or heavily soiled loads. One pack may be too much for very small loads, and you never want to break them.
Keep in mind: Some packs have trouble dissolving in some machines, especially at lower water temperatures, so make sure you add the packs before adding the clothes. Some newer machines now have sections in the dispenser drawer just for these packs so they dissolve better in less water.
✔️ Detergent sheets are the newest innovation in the laundry space. They’re concentrated laundry detergent formulas packed into thin sheets, and while they take some of the guesswork out of how much laundry detergent to use in a regular load, they can be tricky to figure out for other-sized loads. The 24 detergent sheets we tested did not perform as well as many liquid, pack and powder detergents we have tested in the past, but unlike with detergent packs, you can break sheets apart to use for hand washing clothing, and they can be easily tucked into luggage for on the go cleaning.
Safety Note: Make sure you store your single-use laundry packets in their original containers and away from children, pets and anyone else who could be at risk of ingesting them or using them for anything other than laundry. For safety reasons, we don't recommend placing packs in unmarked decorative jars to leave on display in your laundry area. We won't recommend any liquid single-dose detergents that don't come in child-resistant packaging with appropriate safe storage and use directions.
Start with the recommended dosage on the detergent label. Manufacturers formulate detergents differently, so the amount you use for one brand may not be adequate for another. Most detergent directions include dosage recommendations for medium or regular loads and for large or heavily-soiled loads. A medium load means dry clothes fill the tub halfway, a large load fills it 3/4 of the way and an extra-large load fills the tub but still allows the items to move freely. Add more for extra large and extra dirty loads or if your water is especially hard, but careful, use too much and you risk over-sudsing.
Carolyn Forté is a consumer products expert with over 40 years of experience. With a background in textiles and years of testing both laundry detergents and laundry appliances, she knows a thing or two about getting stains out. Carolyn is the Executive Director of Good Housekeeping's Home Care & Cleaning Lab and is the first person GH staffers come to see when they've dribbled some lunch on their shirts. She oversees all of the testing conducted in the Cleaning Lab, including the testing of laundry detergents, and has tested many of the detergents included in this guide too.
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
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